Little Katie (8) who has battled leukaemia left devastated at One Direction let down

Carmel Robinson

An eight-year-old Lurgan girl who has battled leukaemia cried her heart out when One Direction cancelled the concert.

Katie Burns, who has been very ill with the very serious blood cancer, had been looking forward to the concert from last Christmas when Santa Claus brought her tickets to see her idols.

Shannon and Katie Burns with their cousin Molly Mullholland

Equally surprised and delighted was her sister Shannon (14), a pupil at Lismore, who has been a One Direction fan since they were formed on the X Factor.

However mum Caroline who took Katie, Shannon and her niece Molly Mulholland to the concert last night, said the three of them cried their eyes out when they realised the multi- millionaire boy band had let them down.

Caroline explained that Katie, a pupil at the Bunscoil at St John’s PS in Portadown, had been battling cancer and Santa had brought the ID tickets to give her something to look forward to.

The eight-year-old got the all clear from Leukaemia just eight weeks ago and Caroline said they were all very excited about going to the Belfast concert.

Katie Burns being taken to a paediatric nurse after One Direction announced they were not going through with the gig

“The tickets cost around £300, plus we must have spent up to £70 on parking, food and face painting,” said Caroline.

Caroline, from Carrigart Crescent, said they were there for the door opening at 6pm and Jamie Lawson was the support act.

“He did about half a hour and surprisingly he announced he was going to do a meet and greet after his piece. Shannen was so excited and she was first in the queue,” she said.

“Now looking back it was only killing time til they could figure out what to tell the crowd.

“They went through the whole safety announcements and even a drill for what to do if they had to cut short the concert due to bad behaviour before they finally announced that One Direction were not coming on,” she said.

“And when they announced it the place went nuts,” she said.

Unfortunately Katie took ill after the announcement and had to be brought to a paediatric nurse back stage at the concert.

“She was brought down the stairs and there was no one back stage apart from the cleaners,” Caroline told the MAIL.

Shannon was crying her heart out. She has followed them from the start.

“I am so annoyed at the way it was handled.

“There were a lot of very sick kids at that gig and they let them all down. They should have shown a bit more respect,” said Caroline.

The Lurgan mum said she would prefer if the group organised another concert rather than just getting their money back.

“Katie and Shannon will never get that opportunity to see them again. It is just awful.”

However she did say that it would be great if the band would come to Lurgan to meet Katie and Shannon.